The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-07-23

Inc second scene Is peIlOInlcu Ill JRe
palatial home of Judge Payson, at
Clairmont. A tall, fair girl, with
peach-blow cheeks and ruddy lips, is
holding to the light letter bearing the
postmark "Windham." Having given
the missive shake, she tears the
envelope and turns, woman-like, to the
signature. A delicate flush lights up
her face as she recognizes the name of
her Sodus Bay friend. With eager
eyes she scans the first page:
"wMDHAM, Nov. 30, 1884.
'MY DEAR MISS PAYsoN: You may be sur
prised to hear from me, your casual acquaint-
apce at Sodus Bay, but / think have good
excuse for taking the time you will spend in
reading this epistle. The days we passed to-
gether last summer seem fated to haunt me;
for, besides enrichening my thoughts with
pleasant memories and my body with treasures
of good health, they are forcibly recalled by the
fact that left -"
The leaf is slipped behind, and the
flush that has tinged her face deepens
as she whispers to herself the words
that follow;
my heart in your keeping. Since the day we
first met down by the moaning sea the vision Of
| your face has shown from every sky and your
| name has foated TO me upon every breeze.
/ True, firm and lasting as the eternal purple
| peaks that hold their mighty heads heavenward
| is my love for you. And believe that in your
heart OF hearts there turks a love as strong as
| mine Give me one syllable Of promise. Tell
rae yes that you return my passion yes that
yuu will be my wife. II you do not, all the light
shat illumines my soul will have faded and left
me desolate.h
Another leaf is transferred, and she
reads on to the end:
"Time is passing pleasantly here. am de-
voting my leisure to literary work. Will pub
! fish q book about February.
II may be able to get down TO call on you at
| the holidays. or course, shall be pleased to
hear from you.
VERY sincerely,
JOHN ROWLAND"
"a cold closing" she thinks; but,
after all, there was warmth enough in
the letter. With quick steps she seeks
the security of her own room. There
she rereads the precious missive; and,
so far from feeling resentment, takes
from its box her choicest stationery,
and writes, with many corrections and
blots, letter which, on the following
day, greatly startles a young barrister
at Windham.
Startles him so much, indeed, that
he telegraphs to Stuart Claire:
Come up on noon train; strong rea-
sons"
Stuart obeys; and when the friends
have reached Howland's Office asks,
with considerable asperity: "What is
up nowP"
up nowP" is the reply, every
thing is up. Just read that letter,
and tell me if l am losing my senses.
Slowly, emphatically, and with as
judicial an air as he can assume, Stuart
proceeds:
"CLAIRMoET, Dec. I, 1884.
my DEAR Mr.. ROWLAND. Like you 1 have
not forgotten the pleasant days spent at Sodu:
Bay, nor was displeased to receive message
from one whose presence did so much TO make
those days enjoyable.
II was, however, surprised to receive so sud
den declaration OF love from you. was no
prepared.
1T seems TO me that my answer had bette
be postponed awhile-at least until you have
met my father. l shall be pleased to have YOU
call upon me at any time,
'Your sincere friend,
MILE"
The reader paused, and prolong gee
whistle woke the echoes of the office.
well; what do you think of itP L
she bewitched, or am IP'' asked John
"Think of it? Why, l hereby ten
der, convey and assign to you my con
CALCULATIONS, with all powers, advant
ages and emoluments appertaining
thereunto. You're in luck, my boy
How did you ever develop the nerve to
do itP"
81 didn't do it; that's what astound'
me, Two days ago l wrote to hel
asking her for the return of bool
that gave her last summer. 1t wa
one that DR.. McRae gave brother Tom
and it is wanted for the doctors biog
raphy. l offered to exchange a new
copy for it."
Say" cried Stuart, ''was it vol
ume of TassoP And did you esthet
ically 'purloin' instead of steal it
And did you give it to her the day yol
spent searching for lilies in the crysta
coves of Bluff IslandP"
Eyes" replied John, with a sickl,
smile, as he recognized the efeminanc.
of the diction.
"Ha, my lord, have itP' And Stu
art took from his pocket the leaf whicl
had the day before given him so mucl
annoyance.
He held it toward his companion.
"Did you write that for the lips o
the passionate Allyn Germaine?"
, Rowland glanced at it, and ex
claimed; "No; wrote it for the eye
of the lovely Mile Payson. How di'
you get itP"
you sent it to me as part of tn
e love-scene between Allyn and Gene